Fashion Design
Blathnaid O Meara
Aes sídhe
The aos sí older form – aes sídhe is the Irish term for a supernatural race in Irish mythology. The aos sí are generally described as stunningly beautiful, though they can also be terrible and hideous. I wanted to embody the same idea within my garments, being odd and strange but still have a bewitching and alluring form. My collection is inspired by my grandmother and her experiences of fairy-folklore in Ireland years ago. The collection also takes inspiration from a book titled ‘The Good People’ by Hannah Kent. The people of rural Ireland were extremely superstitious and used methods such as making St. Brigid’s crosses and hanging them in their homes to ward off evil. The woven textures on the garments resemble a contemporary interpretation of the St.Brigid’s cross. I used my grandmother’s photo in the texture and wove it in a way that created an unearthly distortion. Wires were used to create volume and movement in my sleeves. The garments are constructed using fluid and peculiar seam lines. The fabrics used throughout the collection start off matte and pristine but become more liquefied and distorted as the superstitions begin to take over the mind.
Work Experience: Saloni, London